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29. Calendar

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Vocabulary

今週 (こんしゅう) konshuu

this week

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

今週は忙しいです
konshuu wa isogashii desu — I'm busy this week
今週のテストは大丈夫ですか
konshuu no tesuto wa daijoubu desu ka — Is this week's test going to be okay?
今週、友達に会います
konshuu, tomodachi ni aimasu — I'll meet a friend this week
先週 (せんしゅう) senshuu

last week

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

先週、本を読みました
senshuu, hon wo yomimashita — I read a book last week
先週の日曜日に友達に会いました
senshuu no nichiyoubi ni tomodachi ni aimashita — I met a friend last Sunday
先週は学校で勉強しました
senshuu wa gakkou de benkyou shimashita — I studied at school last week
来週 (らいしゅう) raishuu

next week

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

来週、テストがあります
raishuu, tesuto ga arimasu — There's a test next week
来週の月曜日に学校に行きます
raishuu no getsuyoubi ni gakkou ni ikimasu — I'll go to school next Monday
来週も宿題がありますか
raishuu mo shukudai ga arimasu ka — Is there homework next week too?

Cultural Notes

The Pattern Behind 今, 先, and 来

Japanese uses three prefixes to talk about time: 今 (this/current), 先 (previous/last), and 来 (next/coming). Once you know these, you can build all the time words you need. 今週 is this week, 先週 is last week, 来週 is next week - and the same pattern works with 月 for months.

Japanese Birthdays Are Low-Key

In Japan, birthdays are quieter than in many Western countries. Adults typically celebrate with a small dinner with close friends or family rather than a big party. You might hear someone casually mention 来月、誕生日があります in conversation without it being a big deal.

Japanese Months Are Just Numbers

Japanese months don't have names like January or February - they're just numbered. 一月 is month one, 二月 is month two, and so on. This makes the 今月, 先月, 来月 pattern easy to use. You don't need to memorize separate month names to talk about time.